Overhead conveyor with a substantially trough-shaped container of flexible material having a slide fastener type closure



Sept. 30, 1969 w. SCHAEFFER 3,469,288

OVERHEAD CONVEYOR WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY THOUGH-SHAPED CONTAINER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING A SLIDE FASTENER TYPE CLOSURE Filed Dec. 19, 1967 2 SheetsSheet 1 14 FIG! INVENTOR WERNER SEHAEFFER Sept. 30, 1969 w. SCHAEFFER 3,469,288

OVERHEAD CONVEYOR WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY THOUGH-SHAPED CONTAINER OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL HAVING A SLIDE FASTENER TYPE CLOSURE Filed Dec. 19, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

WERNER SCHAEFFER BY United States Patent c in. ct. B65g 65/5 8; A44b 19/04 U.S. c1. 24 205.1

10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An overhead conveyor in which elongated edge por tions of a trough-shaped container of flexible material are releasably connected by a slide fastener type closure means so that, when the closure means is opened, material carried in the container may be discharged therefrom, and in which the interlocking elements of said closure means are constructed and arranged to remain in engaged position under the pressure they are subjected to by the load in the container.

Background of the invention The present invention relates to an overhead conveyor in which a trough-shaped or hose-shaped container of flexible material is suspended on an elongated overhead guide movable therealong and in which opposite elongated edge portions at the bottom of the container are releasably connected by a slide fastener type closure means, so that, when the closure means is opened, material carried in the container may be discharged therefrom. Overhead conveyors of this type are known inthe art and the slide fastener type closure means of the container of a known overhead conveyor of the aforementioned type comprises two stringers extending along and connected to the edge portions of the container and each of the stringers comprises two superimposed rows of interlocking elements, and in which the interlocking elements in each row are uniformly spaced from each other and interlocked in transverse direction of the stringers with the interlocking elements of .the corresponding row of stringers. Each of the interlocking elements has a front portion and a rear portion and the front portions of the superimposed rows of the interlocking elements in each stringer are separated from each other by longitudinally extending groove portions, whereas web portions arranged substantially in one plane with said groove portions and extending transversely through the spaces between the rear portions of adjacent interlocking elements in each stringer are respectively engaged in the groove portions in the interlocking elements of the other stringer so as to interlock the stringers in a direction normal to the transverse and to the longitudinal direction of the stringers. 7

Experience has shown that these slide fastener type closure means are subjected, when the container is loaded, to considerable stresses, and if the container has a relaopening thereof under the load in the container will be positively prevented.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a slide fastener type closure for the above purpose which is constructed of relatively simple parts so that it may be manufactured at reasonable cost and will stand up trouble-free under extended use.

Summary of the invention With these objects in view the overhead conveyor according to the present invention mainly comprises a substantially trough-shaped container having walls of flexible; material and a pair of elongated edge portions and slide fastener type closure means for releasably connecting the. edge portions to each other, to permit, when released discharge of material of the container. The slide fastener type closure means according to the present invention comprises two stringers extending along and connected to the edge portions and each of the stringers comprises two superimposed rows of interlocking elements with one of the two rows of interlocking elements closer to the contai-ner wall than the other row, in which the interlocking elements in each row are uniformly spaced from each other and interlocked in transverse direction of the stringers with the interlocking elements of the corresponding row of the other stringer. Each of the interlocking elements has a front portion and a rear portion and the front portions of the superimposed rows of interlocking elements in each stringer are separated by longitudinally aligned groove portions, and web portions arranged substantially in one plane with the groove portions and extending transversely through the spaces between the rear portions of adjacent interlocking elements in each stringer are respectively engaged in the groove portions of the other stringer so as to interlock the stringers in direction normal to the transverse and normal to the longitudinal direction of the stringers. According to the present invention, the interlocking elements in the one row of each stringer which is closer to the container wall than the other stringer has a thickness greater than that of the interlocking elements in the other row.

Preferably, the interlocking elements of greater thickness in the one row of interlocking elements are, at least in one stringer, reinforced by a reinforcement. The reinforcement preferably comprises an elongated flexible element extending through all of the interlocking elements of the one row of the interlocking elements and the elongated'fiexible element may be formed from a fabric of metal fibers which is preferably in tubular form.

Each of the stringers preferably includes an elongated flexible web, embedded along one edge portion thereof in the material of the interlocking elements while the tively large cross section and the closure means are slide fastener type closure in such a manner that undesired other edge portion edge portion thereof is connected to the respective edge portion of the container and each stringer may also include anchoring means likewise embedded in the material of the interlocking elements and anchoring the elongated flexible reinforcing element to the flexible web.

When the stringers and the interlocking elements are molded from plastic material, this plastic material will penetrate during the manufacturing of the stringers into the tubular metal wire fabric and enclose the latter also completely at the exterior thereof. When the stringers are made from rubber, then it is possible to vulcanize the metal reinforcement to the rubber material whereby the connection between these two elements is further improved. The flexible reinforcing element is arranged to extend to the tip of each interlocking element and thereby reinforce each interlocking element throughout its length. In addition, adjacent interlocking elements are also connected in a tension resisting manner to each other. Since reinforcing elements formed from tubular metal wire fabric or similar metal fabric are very flexible, the flexibility of the reinforced stringers is not, or only to a very small extent, reduced.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a schematic transverse cross section through an overhead conveyor according ot the present invention, including a trough-shaped container of flexible material, the bottom portion of which may be closed and opened by means of a slide fastener type closure;

FIG. 2 is a cross section through the slide fastener type closure drawn to an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now to the drawing, and more specifically to FIG. 1 of the same, it will be seen that the overhead conveyor according to the present invention comprises an elongated substantially trough-shaped container formed by a pair of sheets and 11 of flexible material which along the upper edges thereof are connected in any suitable manner to a plurality of spaced bow-shaped carrier members 12, only one of which is shown in the cross section of FIG. 1, which in turn are pivotally connected to a trolley, the wheels 13 of which may ride on the lower flanges of the rail or I-beam 14 supported above the ground in a known manner, not shown in the drawing. The bottom edges of the sheets 10 and 11 are connected to each other by a slide fastener type closure means 15, having a pair of stringers 16 and 17, including flexible webs 18 and 19 which connect the interlocking elements of the stringers to the bottom edges of the sheets 10 and 11, in the manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Each of the stringers 16 and 17 comprises, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two superimposed rows 20 and 21 of interlocking elements, and the interlocking elements of each row are uniformly spaced from each other and interlock in transverse direction of the stringers with the interlocking elements of the corresponding row of the other stringer. Each of the interlocking elements has a front portion F and a rear portion R, and the front portions of the superimposed rows of interlocking elements in each stringer are separated by longitudinally aligned groove portions 23, as best shown in FIG. 2, while web portions 22 substantially in one plane with the aforementioned groove portions extend transversely through the spaces between rear portions R of adjacent interlocking elements in each stringer. As shown in FIG. 2, the web portions 22 of one stringer are respectively engaged in the groove portions 23 of the other stringer and vice versa, so as to interlock the two stringers in vertical direction. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the interlocking elements of the row 20 of each stringer which are closer to the interior 24 of the trough-shaped container have a greater thickness than that of the interlocking elements of the row 21. Furthermore, the interlocking elements of the row 20 of at least one stringer, for instance the stringer 17, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, are reinforced by reinforcing elements 25 of flexible material, for instance, a fabric of metal wires, which is preferably in the form of a flattened hose. The reinforcements 25 extend in loop form into each of the interlocking elements up to the front portion F thereof and the reinforcements are preferably continued in form of transverse portions 26 which extend along the base connecting the rear portion of the interlocking elements of each row integrally 4 with each other, thereby reinforcing each stringer in longitudinal direction and preventing undesired elongation of the stringer.

The metal reinforcements 25, 26 are preferably connected by clamps 27 to the flexible web 19, by means of which the stringer 17 is connected to the lower edge portion of the sheet 11 of the flexible container.

While in the construction shown in the drawing only the stringer 17 is reinforced by metallic reinforcements 25, 26 it has to be understood that the row of interlocking elements 20 of the other stringers 16 may also be reinforced in the same or in similar manner by flexible metallic reinforcements.

The base portions of the stringers which integrally connect the interlocking elements thereof are formed at the outer surfaces with grooves 28, as best shown in FIG. 2, adapted to be engaged by guide rollers, not shown in the drawing, serving to press the interlocking elements of the opposite stringers in a known manner in interlocking engagement with each other. Each of the stringers has at one longitudinal end thereof an end member of known construction adapted to be engaged in a known manner by rollers or sliders movable longitudinally relative to the stringers for opening the slide fastener closure in a manner known per se, whenever desired. The means for opening and closing the slide fastener type closure do not form part of the present invention and these known means are therefore not shown in the drawing.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of overhead type conveyors having trough-shaped containers formed by two sheets of flexible material connected to each other by slide fastener-type closure means differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an overhead container having a troughshaped container formed by two sheets of flexible material, the bottom edges of which are connected by a slide-fastener type closure means the stringers of which are each formed by two superimposed rows of interlocking elements, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A slide fastener type closure means, especially for releasably connecting edge portions of flexible walls of loaded containers, said slide fastener comprising, in combination, two stringers adapted to be connected to said edge portions for releasably connecting the same, each of said stringers comprising two superimposed rows of interlocking elements, the interlocking elements in each row being uniformly spaced from each other and mterlocked in transverse direction of said stringers with the interlocking elements of the corresponding row in the other stringer, each of said interlocking elements having a front portion and a rear portion, and the front portions of said superimposed rows of interlocking elements in each stringer are separated by longitudinally aligned groove portions, and web portions extending substantially in one plane with said groove portions and transversely through the spaces between said rear portions of adjacent interlocking elements in each stringer are respectively engaged in said groove portions in the interlocking elements of the other stringer so as to interlock said stringers in direction normal to said transverse and to the longitudinal direction of the stringers, the interlocking elements of one row in each stringer having a greater thickness than that of the interlocking elements in the other row.

2. Closure means as defined in claim 1, wherein said interlocking elements of greater thickness in said one row of interlocking elements of at least one stringer are reinforced by reinforcements.

3. Closure means as defined in claim 2, wherein said reinforcements are flexible.

4. Closure means as defined in claim 2, wherein said reinforcements comprise an elongated flexible element extending through all of the interlocking elements of said one row of interlocking elements in at least said one stringer.

5. Closure means as defined in claim 2, wherein said reinforcement comprises an elongated flexible element formed from a fabric of metal wires.

6. Closure means as defined in claim 5, wherein said fabric of metal wires is in tubular form.

7. Closure means as defined in claim 5, wherein said tubular reinforcement is elongated and extends through all the interlocking elements of said one row of inter-- locking elements.

8. Closure means as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said stringers includes an elongated flexible web embedded along one edge portion thereof in the material of said interlocking elements and being adapted to be connected along the other edge portion thereof to the respective edge portion of said container wall, and including anchoring means, likewise embedded in said material of said interlocking elements, and anchoring said elongated flexible reinforcing element to said flexible web.

9. Closure means as defined in claim 1, wherein said interlocking elements are made from flexible material, and wherein the interlocking elements of each stringer are integrally connected to each other by an elongated portion at the side of the interlocking elements facing away from the interlocking elements of the other stringer.

10. Closure means as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said elongated portions is provided at an outer face thereof with a longitudinally extending groove adapted to be engaged by a roller for interlocking said interlocking elements of said two stringers with each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,525,284 10/1950 Camp 24205.13 2,772,469 12/ 1956 Staccar 24-205.13

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,183,011 12/1964 Germany.

HARVEY C. HORNSBY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24205.l3; 198-184 

